Liquid foam dispensing system



P 1967 J. P. CHARTERS I 3,343,609

LIQUID FOAM DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 27, 1965 ZZ/ Zli F .1 W L T.

3 OR 37 4. viz/ ia? F Cmqzyzes United States Patent M LKQUID FOAM DHSPENSENG SYSTEM James P. Charters, San Francisco, Calif. Laskar, 21543 48th Ave., Bayside, N.Y. 11364) Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,462 Claims. (Cl. 169-2) My invention is directed toward liquid foam systems for fire trucks.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved system for feeding liquid foam or other liquid fire extinguishing agents, into the foam tank or pump of a fire truck.

Another object is to provide a new and improved system of the character indicated, which can be used on aircraft crash trucks as well 'as pumper trucks, or combination crash and structural trucks.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved system of the character indicated, which saves time in operation, and which can be quickly reloaded more simply than heretofore.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of my invention will now be explained with reference both to this specification and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the top deck or roof of a truck body incorporating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view of a removable grating in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of some of the parts used in my invention; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates a mechanism for opening foam filled cans in accordance with my invention. (Section 5-5.)

Referring now to FIGURES 1-5, there is shown the top deck or roof of a truck body carrying a plurality of devices 12 covered by a removable grating 14 having access openings 16. Devices 12 are disposed concentrically in axially displaced positions along horizontal support rod 18. Each device 12 is aligned with an opening 16.

Devices 12 and grating 14 and rod 18 are mounted into a hollow metal compartment 20 having a lid 22 with a handle 24 and hinged at 26 to the open top of the compartment. (Two such compartments are shown, but in principle any number of such compartments can be used.)

Each compartment contains a plurality of horizontally displaced cans 28 for example, five gallon cans filled with liquid foam. The bottom of each can rests over a corresponding one of openings 16. Each can rests between parallel vertical side walls 30 having inwardly turned horizontal ledges 32 supporting the grating.

Each rod 18 is supported horizontally in a suitable opening 34 in one of walls 30 below the cans. Each device 12 comprises a first arm 36 extending axially away from a sleeve 38, and having a transverse upwardly pointing puncture tip 40 at its other end, and a second arm 42 extending axially from sleeve 38 and having a foot pedal 44 at the other end. Arms 42 and 36 have an included 3,3435% Patented Sept. 26, 1967 obtuse angle. Tip 40 is weighted so that it normally is held by gravity below the corresponding can. When pedal 4 is depressed, tip 49 is swung upward to puncture the base of the corresponding can, whereby the liquid foam runs out into a drain pan 46 having at its central lowest point an opening 48 to which a flexible pipe 50 can be attached to conduct the foam liquid to a foam tank or pump. Opening 48 can have a removable screen to filter the foam liquid.

The same process can be used to add detergents or disinfectants to water for cleaning areas or decontaminating roads or areas.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes may be made therein within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

i. A liquid foam system for fire trucks comprising a hollow compartment, a horizontal removable grating in said compartment having a plurality of spaced apart openings disposed along a horizontal line, a like plurality of liquid foam filled cans, the bottom of each can being in registration with and resting upon a corresponding one of said openings, and a like plurality of can puncture devices, each device being disposed below a corresponding opening and having a first withdrawn position spaced apart from the corresponding can, and having a second position at which said device punctures the corresponding can and releases the liquid foam therein.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, further including drain pan means in said compartment to collect any foam released from any can, said means having at its lowest point a discharge orifice.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, further including a horizontal rod extending below said grate and aligned with said horizontal line.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said devices are manually operable and are pivotable about said rod and axially displaced therealong.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein each device includes a hollow sleeve concentrically and rotatably disposed about said rod and first and second arms extending radially away from said rod and secured to said sleeve, said arms having an included obtuse angle, the free end of one arm having a foot pedal, the free end of the other arm having a transverse upwardly pointed puncture member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,129,890 4/1964 Britton 1693O X M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner.

H. NATI'ER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID FOAM SYSTEM FOR FIRE TRUCKS COMPRISING A HOLLOW COMPARTMENT, A HORIZONTAL REMOVABLE GRATING IN SAID COMPARTMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART OPENINGS DISPOSED ALONG A HORIZONTAL LINE, A LIKE PLURALITY OF LIQUID FOAM FILLED CANS, THE BOTTOM OF EACH CAN BEING IN REGISTRATION WITH AND RESTING UPON A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OPENINGS, AND A LIKE PLURALITY OF CAN PUNCTURE DEVICES, EACH DEVICE BEING DISPOSED BELOW A CORRESPONDING OPENING AND HAVING A FIRST WITHDRAWN POSITION SPACED 